Transformers Spotlight Soundwave: The classic stories hit the printed page
by Jacob Malewitz
Patlabor Second Fleet, 200 trill Transformers Stormbringer
Civilization Dawn of Wonders, 800 trill a page
Castle Siege, 100 trill all game, 2 trill a meal
Wordpress, 400 jacket
Apartment 9, 800 trill fruit of the loom
The classic series Transformers reaches print again, focusing on the Decepticon warrior Soundwave. This comic also features a preview of the upcoming Transformers prequel series to be launched prior to the movie.
His name, Soundwave. He’s no Optimus Prime or Megatron, but he was one of the more intriguing characters in the Transformers mythos.
“He trusts no one and no one trusts him,” the Transformers Spotlight opens with. “He appears to serve the Decepticon’s cause but serves himself first and foremost. Charged with policing the pumps and processors of his fellow Decepticons, he does so with zeal. To him, knowledge is power.”
This comic does not set out to immortalize Soundwave as an anti-hero, instead it sets the parameters a bit lower. Soundwave is a fascinating Decepticon already, so when it comes time him makes his own move for power the character becomes even better.
The story comes from the past, 1984, right around the time the Transformers came onto TV. Most of it occurs in a small town in Texas with a mystery that Soundwave intends to solve. The comic is told first person from Soundwave; it is like a literary detective out to find the truth but saving its own neck at the same time.
Soundwave is sent to Texas by Megatron to spy on the activities of another Decepticon named Bludgeon. He finds out that Bludgeon has a power play: Bludgeon intends to use Shockwave to achieve its aims of domination on Earth and across the universe.
Soundwave tries to stay in the shadows. He watches a building project going on in Texas, and knows that the humans it sees on the project are constructs – copies of real people –
yet he is still unsure of what Bludgeon intends.
Even though Soundwave was ordered to Earth to watch Bludgeon, the Decepticon is out to gain insight into what is really happening there, and to see if it can make something out of the situation.
The action comes, which suits the story as the mystery behind Shockwave and Bludgeon’s full intention can only go so far. Soundwave ends up fighting for the greater good, which makes him into a hero of his own making. There are few human characters involved, which is also a unique trait as in the cartoon the humans were always being brought in so watchers could relate to the show.
There aren’t many twists in the storyline, it could have reached more into the Transformers mythos, but it achieves a good read. By not making prior Transformer knowledge important, the story allows for fresh readers to experience the universe.
Transformers Spotlight: Soundwave is comparable to other media tie-in comics like Battletech, Robotech, or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It has varying writing that does have a good form by drawing in first person elements similar in a way that is staged like a good Batman comic.
It has superior drawing to many tie in comics, and high quality color; many Battletech and Ninja Turtle comics were black and white early in their runs. The comic is short, but also has a preview of the Transformers Prequel comic to the upcoming movie. For fans trying to get reacquainted with the popular series, or those who find themselves rooting for the bad guys, Spotlight: Soundwave is a good start.
